The annual election period for Medicare is approaching and local counselors with the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program are offering their services for free to provide information helping people to make informed decisions.

Benefits and costs of health plans can change annually. From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, Medicare beneficiaries can review and alter their plans for next year’s coverage. The deadline is designed to give Medicare enough time to process the choices so that coverage can begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2013.

Officials with the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, a division of the N.C. Dept. of Insurance, are available in Dallas to help anyone with questions about Medicare Part D coverage and enrollment.

SHIIP provides free, unbiased opinions to show people which Medicare plans are available, according to Jim Burke, Gaston County SHIIP coordinator.

“The Medicare program is a huge program. It services millions of people. The regulations are pretty complex,” he said. “If you don’t work with it all the time it can be pretty difficult to understand. That’s the reason the SHIIP program was founded initially, to provide people with a resource. We don’t sell anything. It doesn’t make any difference to us what plan you pick.”

Services are provided year-round but with the Medicare annual election period beginning soon, trained SHIIP counselors are available for one-on-one appointments at their office at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service at the Citizens’ Resource Center, 1303 Dallas Cherryville Highway, Dallas.

Those interested in scheduling a free review of current Medicare Part D coverage can call 704-922-2110.

Gazette reporter Wade Allen can be reached at 704-869-1828; twitter.com/gazettewade.